There's good reason Jindal's approval ratings have been in the toilet of late. Crap like this and then his ambitious plan to overhaul the state income tax system was met with such resistance from a Republican-controlled legislature that even when he pulled back his plan and asked them to simply come up with a reform packaged died in committee. I think he's regretted that decision about intelligent design and creationism lately, judging by some of his recent speeches, but it's going to be tough for him to live that one down. The sad thing is my kids will get a better science education at private Catholic schools in New Orleans than kids in public schools in some backwoods parts of the state will get. Creationism and intelligent design are not science, are not even a "controversy" in the scientific community. They are part of someone's religious faith, and they are certainly no part of my religious faith, so keep that stuff in your church.

This stuff passed long before he made that speech (hence my comment). Some powerful legislators from the hinterlands of this state foisted it on him and he backed it, though, so he'll have to own it for a long time.

thomps:how much time could it really take to teach creationism in class? can't you just toss an addendum on the end of the evolution lecture that says "or god."

Nope. If it's done correctly, hand the kids a blank sheet of paper, tell them that it contains all of the scientific evidence FOR creationism, then move on with the real science.

Of course, if you are teaching a stack of kids who are being funded by government vouchers at Baptist Bible High School of the Deep South in Deepinabayou, LA, then you could get fired for doing that. In that case, the science is "God sayd it, I buhleeve it, dat settlers it!"

While I don't think we should be teaching creationism in schools, I also think this guy is a BIT hyperbolic. Many functioning adult scientist were taught creationism when they were in the public schools, they learned to reject such silly thoughts, and they went on with their lives. A few mentions of "God" isn't going to destroy a kids brain and permanently damage them to all science.

MindStalker:While I don't think we should be teaching creationism in schools, I also think this guy is a BIT hyperbolic. Many functioning adult scientist were taught creationism when they were in the public schools, they learned to reject such silly thoughts, and they went on with their lives. A few mentions of "God" isn't going to destroy a kids brain and permanently damage them to all science.

it does not belong in science class. you could put it a comparative religion class. or even a literature class.

MindStalker:While I don't think we should be teaching creationism in schools, I also think this guy is a BIT hyperbolic. Many functioning adult scientist were taught creationism when they were in the public schools, they learned to reject such silly thoughts, and they went on with their lives. A few mentions of "God" isn't going to destroy a kids brain and permanently damage them to all science.

The point is it's not science. Creationism is not in any way science and should not be taught as such. I don't want them tested on this crap, or to give them an easy opt-out to everything. "God did X" and "I don't believe in X" have no place there.

MindStalker:While I don't think we should be teaching creationism in schools, I also think this guy is a BIT hyperbolic. Many functioning adult scientist were taught creationism when they were in the public schools, they learned to reject such silly thoughts, and they went on with their lives. A few mentions of "God" isn't going to destroy a kids brain and permanently damage them to all science.

I went to a Roman Catholic school and even I wasn't taught creationism in school.

What is really baffling is when you hear about people who are geologists or whatever who must know earth processes take more than a few thousand years and yet are still convinced that the earth is only 5000 years old.

MindStalker:While I don't think we should be teaching creationism in schools, I also think this guy is a BIT hyperbolic. Many functioning adult scientist were taught creationism when they were in the public schools, they learned to reject such silly thoughts, and they went on with their lives.

So what you're saying then is that what we knew about science 50 years ago is just as valid and equally true as what we know today?

Gergesa:What is really baffling is when you hear about people who are geologists or whatever who must know earth processes take more than a few thousand years and yet are still convinced that the earth is only 5000 years old.

There was a geology professor at a Christian university in the US that I saw interviewed on a news show. He was explaining that he was prohibited from talking about the ages of rocks and such in terms of numerical age. He would refer to them as old, very old, very very old, very very very old. etc...

Nabb1:The sad thing is my kids will get a better science education at private Catholic schools in New Orleans than kids in public schools in some backwoods parts of the state will get. Creationism and intelligent design are not science, are not even a "controversy" in the scientific community. They are part of someone's religious faith, and they are certainly no part of my religious faith, so keep that stuff in your church.

I attended a Catholic High school that included Theology in the curriculum. Never once did our Science and Theology classes clash.

In one case a student asked about evolution vs the earth being made in 7 days in our theology class, and the teacher's response was something to the effect of "The bible is full of stories that aren't meant to be taken literally, but to teach us lessons. Who is to say that what the bibled called 7 days wasn't actually few billion years? Who was measuring time before humans got here?"

It's almost as if Jindal's rhetoric about "not being the Stupid Party" was meant as contrite-sounding publicity stunt aimed at changing the tone used by the Republican party, and not meant to literally suggest that the Republicans should actually stop doing stupid things.

I, for one, am shocked and heartbroken. Who could have seen this coming?

This is coming from a guy that performed an exorcism on a female classmate while he was in college and then wrote about it.

I will admit that I did take a temp job teaching an ID class once.

"Welcome class. You have all signed up for Intelligent Design 101: The study of God in Evolution. This is an 8 weeks class with various read material exploring God and his influence in evolution. I take no attendance and give no quizzes. There will be one final exam accounting for 100% of your grade. It will include multiply choice and essay. One each. If you are taking notes the answer to both is "God did it"Thank you and see you in eight weeks"

Jindal's stance here does fly directly into his opposition of being the "party of stupid". It must be difficult to find perspective from inside the vortex.

But, fark yes, teaching intelligent design in schools in not only astonishingly stupid, requiring inordinate amounts of ignorance, (even it plays well with some of the folks), it is also conspicuously unconstitutional, a de facto endorsement of a religion in public schools.

Go figure. No party of stupid, here. The sad thing is that everything here reflects the voter's will. Our government is only as smart as our voters, apparently.

IamTomJoad:This is coming from a guy that performed an exorcism on a female classmate while he was in college and then wrote about it.

I will admit that I did take a temp job teaching an ID class once.

"Welcome class. You have all signed up for Intelligent Design 101: The study of God in Evolution. This is an 8 weeks class with various read material exploring God and his influence in evolution. I take no attendance and give no quizzes. There will be one final exam accounting for 100% of your grade. It will include multiply choice and essay. One each. If you are taking notes the answer to both is "God did it"Thank you and see you in eight weeks"

Easiest 8 weeks class ever

All the electives I took were either moderately difficult or hard. How come I can't get retarded simply classes like that?

MindStalker:While I don't think we should be teaching creationism in schools, I also think this guy is a BIT hyperbolic. Many functioning adult scientist were taught creationism when they were in the public schools, they learned to reject such silly thoughts, and they went on with their lives. A few mentions of "God" isn't going to destroy a kids brain and permanently damage them to all science.

Emperor Jindal said to Nasruddin, "Mullah, all the great rulers of the past had honorific titles with the name of God in them. There was, for instance, 'God-Gifted' and 'God-Chosen' and so on. Can you think of some such name for me?" "God Forbid," said Nasruddin.

anyway what he is doing is the all to often used diversionary attack. vouchers and creationism would be fine if it weren't for those meddling teacher's unions. in my reply i ask what he thought of the article we are discussing but i doubt i'll get a response.